Jazz hire Quin Snyder as new head coach

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - The Utah Jazz have hired former Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Quin Snyder as its next head coach, replacing Tyrone Crobin, whose contract was not renewed.

Snyder reportedly agreed to a 3-year deal with a team option for a 4th. Snyder is the eighth head coach in Jazz history and the fifth since the franchise’s relocation to Utah in 1979.

“On behalf of the Miller family, I welcome Quin Snyder as the new head coach of the Utah Jazz,” said Greg Miller, Jazz CEO. “He has an impressive basketball pedigree, including more than a decade of head coaching experience that positions him well to succeed in the Jazz organization. We look forward to Quin’s contributions both on the court and in the community.”

“The opportunity to join the Utah Jazz and to be part of such a highly respected franchise with an incredibly bright future is a great honor,” Snyder said. “I approach this opportunity with gratitude and humility and am committed to doing everything I can to help the Jazz become a championship-caliber team.”

Former Jazz forward and current Atlanta Hawks all-star Paul Millsap tweeted, "Congratulations to Quin Snyder for being named head coach of the @utahjazz!!! The Jazz are getting a great coach and person."

Snyder possesses a diverse coaching background that spans more than two decades in the NBA, Europe, the NBA Development League and college, including 10 years of experience as a head coach.

“We were very disciplined and thorough in our process, which has resulted in hiring Quin to lead this team into a new era for Jazz basketball,” said Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby. “He has been affiliated with tremendous coaches and programs throughout his career from Duke University to the Atlanta Hawks. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding Quin from some of the most respected basketball minds in the game.”

From 2007-10, Snyder served as head coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (the D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs), where he recorded a 94-56 (.627) mark, while leading the club to playoff appearances in all three seasons and advancing to at least the D-League Semifinals each year. In his first season with the Toros, Snyder inherited a team that had finished the prior season 21-29, and led them to a 30-20 record, a Southwest Division title and an appearance in the 2008 D-League Finals. He followed that with consecutive 32-18 campaigns and first-round playoff wins, earning the D-League’s 2009 Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year honors and a selection as head coach of the 2009 D-League All-Star Game in Phoenix. During his three-year tenure in Austin, Snyder compiled more wins and guided more players to the NBA than any other coach in the D-League.

His first head coaching position came at the University of Missouri, where in seven seasons (1999-2006), he led the Tigers to a 128-96 (.571) record and four NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2002.

“Quin Snyder combines a unique skillset with several intangibles that makes him the right fit for our team and approach to basketball,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “He is passionate about the game and has a 20-year track record of teaching and developing young talent. His personality, work ethic and communications skills are important traits that will benefit the Utah Jazz. We have taken a significant and exciting step forward in the evolution of this franchise.”

Snyder most recently completed his first season as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in 2013-14 under Mike Budenholzer, helping the Hawks to a 2014 playoff appearance. He has also served as an assistant with CSKA Moscow (2012-13) for Ettore Messina, worked as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011-12 with Mike Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers in 2010-11 alongside Doug Collins. Prior to being hired as head coach at Missouri, Snyder served as associate head coach to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from 1993-99, and as an assistant for Larry Brown with the 1992-93 Los Angeles Clippers.

Born in Mercer Island, Wash., Snyder was a two-time Washington player of the year and a McDonald's All-American. He played collegiately at Duke (1985-89), appearing in 136 games for the Blue Devils and reaching three Final Fours. He was elected as a team captain and honored as an Academic All-American during his senior season.

Snyder and his wife Amy have a daughter, Anika, and son, Wyatt, and are currently expecting another addition to the family. He is also the proud father of son Owen. Snyder earned undergraduate degrees in both philosophy and political science from Duke, later earning a Juris Doctor and M.B.A. from Duke as well.

Copyright 2014 abc4.com Nexstar Broadcasting, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.